The new name, Brick+Mortar District, reflects the structure of the 1916 building on East Central Avenue but also the fact that it hosts physical shops, said co-owner Rachael Walz. Walz is owner of The Foundry, which relocated into the building as its flagship store.

“We are happy to be a part of downtown. I feel like it’s where we are meant to be, and then it works so well with the vision for the property,” Walz said. “We just really want to collaborate and work with small businesses. That’s what I’m passionate about. I love that I have so many in this building.

“Next month we have a Christmas in July event so we have food trucks that are coming,” she added.

One of The Foundry’s customers, Jessica Mowbray, had contacted Walz in January 2022 about purchasing what was known as the Brick building. After touring the property, Walz said, she thought it would be a dream to acquire, but she was intimidated by the size and the mechanical work involved to bring it up to modern standards.

Lexi Lou Floral employee Madi Senger, left, and owner Lexi Clark, right, stand among the many plants on display in the floral shop in the Brick+Mortar District building.

Walz and Mowbray ended up purchasing the building together, and the first order of business was to tear out walls of three suites to create a large space that enabled The Foundry to open there. A coffee shop space came next, and then the second and third floors were remodeled.

“Finding businesses to fill the space wasn’t the hard part,” Walz said, noting that business owners were contacting her. Her concern wasn’t finding tenants but finding the right tenants.

“It’s a lot of small businesses and it’s important that we support each other. I really wanted to foster an environment where women support women,” Walz said. “If women support women, we would be unstoppable. There’s not one thing we couldn’t do if we had a support system, and so that’s why it was really imperative that we picked good people.”

Lexi Clark, owner of Lexi Lou Florals, had operated from her house for four years but was ready for the shop space that Brick+Mortar provided.

“I love it,” she said. “It’s good. It’s home.”

Jill Schramm/MDN The Foundry, which typically is open only on certain weekends during the summer, opened its doors to shoppers and guests Wednesday. The day featured a ribbon-cutting for the building and many of its tenants.

The plants love the large windows and light, too, she said.

“Everyone in the building is awesome. We work really well together for collaborations,” she said. “It’s a good vibe and we push each other to be better entrepreneurs and business owners.”

Heather Ohlhauser, a photographer and owner of the Heather Noel photography studio, brings experience working with a Bismarck company and in operating her own business since 2020. Heather Noel opened at the end of May.

“It’s been my dream since I was in college so it’s like surreal to have my own space,” Ohlhauser said. “It’s big, and the windows are nice and big. So a perfect space for me.”

Occupants include The Foundry, Foundry Coffee Co., The Makery, Lexi Lou Floral, Aglow by Shantel, Klein Chiropractic & Wellness, Heather Noel Photography, Simple Church, Dry Society, Myohealth Massage Therapy, Healing Waves, Downtown Minot office and Magic City Management. A hair salon will be moving in later this summer.

Walz said she would like to obtain old photos of the 1916 building from anyone who has any to share. She already has been gifted one that she intends to frame to start a wall gallery in the building’s common area.

The building at one time housed a plow equipment company and later a feed store. It was the place where farmers picked up their chickens. Since then it has served a variety of businesses, including a dance studio, fitness center, bakery and offices.

Walz said the older building required major renovations, such as installation of fire suppression sprinklers, but the goal was to preserve the building, especially the bricks, as much as possible. A ribbon-cutting with the Minot Area Chamber EDC on Wednesday celebrated the renovation’s completion.

“We’re kind of at a really good point – where we’ve done the work, we have great businesses. We’re just trying to enjoy the fruits of our labor finally. It’s almost a year later, and we have tenants that are paying rent. It’s a great feeling,” Walz said.